A14462:63
The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained…The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned…
The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained in the holy Scriptures wherein the principal points of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into English, by John Shute, according to the late copy set forth, by th'author Master Peter Viret. 1565. Overseen and perused, according to the order appointed, by the Queens majesties injunctions.The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures wherein the principall pointes of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into Englishe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late copy set forth, by th'author Maister Peter Viret. 1565. Ouersene and perused, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1565London: printed by Iohn Day, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ Of the predecessors of the wicked and infidels, and how the auncientie of sins doth procure Gods wrath upon men, and doth not excuse them.
¶ Of the predecessours of the vvicked and infidels, and hovve the auncientie of sinnes doth procure Gods vvrath vpon men, and doth not excuse them.
T. IT followeth then by this account, that such as follow and do the work of the devil, are the devils sons & successors. D. The matter is plain, wherefore thou mayest easily perceive by this what predecessors such kind of men may allege, that will follow any other order of life, then that which hath ben taught us by God: & what cause they have to glory of auncientie and of old worlds. Let them them allege the devil for their most ancient father, and with his lies fight against the eternal truth of God: let the manslayers and murderers allege Cain, and the Sodomites, those whose name they bear. All these kinds of men and all other wicked ones have fathers very ancient, they do follow one doctrine and one sort of life, which is very ancient: but truth, virtue, holiness, innocency, & God which is there father, are yet more ancient, for the devil, sin, and lies, of the which he is author, have had their beginning, and reign, and therefore they shall once have an end. But God is eternal, without beginning and without end, and so is his truth, whereof he is father, and of all virtues else. And therefore God doth not only not support heresies, errors, superstitions and Idolatries, because of their auncientie: but contrarily he threateneth the Idolaters and wicked ones, that the longer that they have continued in sin and followed the same, the greater vengeance he will send upon them. Wherefore it is spoken by the Prophet Isaiah: Behold 1it is written before me, I will no longer hold my peace, but will yield and throw into their bosoms, your iniquities, with the iniquities of your fathers also, saith the Lord, ⟨p. 10⟩and immediately after: whereby I will yield again unto them in their bosom the measure of their first work. The Lord speaketh this upon good occasion, for if the father have ben wicked, and the son is yet more wicked, the iniquity of the father doth not amend that of the son, and make it virtue and not vice. T. No, but doth increase it much more, for the more of our predecessors that have ben rebels against God, so much the greater is our fault. D.